Buckle

ABSTRACT

A buckle for use with a perforated strap, such as a luggage strap. A base plate carries a stud for engaging a selected perforation of the strap. A loop member pivotably connected to the base plate and movable to raised and lowered positions with respect thereto has a tang formed integrally therewith which extends into the opening defined by the loop member. When the loop member is in the lowered position, the tang cooperates with the end of the stud for maintaining the selected perforation of the strap in receiving engagement with the stud. A leaf spring attached to the base plate releasably maintains the loop member in the raised and lowered positions. A key-actuatable bolt is provided for locking the loop member in the lowered position.

United States Patent Walter Kidde & Company, lnc., Elmwood Park, NJ.

Bako June 3, 1975 [54] BUCKLE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 lnvemorlLallo Bake, Woodcliff Lake 20,351 9/1908 United Kingdom 24/167 [73]Assignee: Presto Lock Company, Division of Primary Examiner-Bernard A.Gelak Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shapiro and Shapiro [22] Filed: Jan. 30,1974 57 CT [21] Appl. No.: 437,932 A buckle for use with a perforatedstrap, such as a luggage strap. A base plate carries a stud for engaginga selected perforation of the strap. A loop member pivfi 24/167 L fi gotably connected to the base plate and movable to l 5 d 173 180 raisedand lowered positions with respect thereto has a 1 le 0 earc 24/188 17tang formed integrally therewith which extends into the opening definedby the loop member. When the loop member is in the lowered position, thetang coop- [56] References Clted erates with the end of the stud formaintaining the se- UNITED STATES PATENTS lected perforation of thestrap in receiving engage- 142,907 9/1873 Frazer 24/180 ment with thestud. A leaf spring attached to the base 232,526 9/1880 Marschall 24/166plate releasably maintains the loop member in the 3231936 10/1885 Hardy24/180 raised and lowered positions. A key-actuatable bolt is 400,6244/1889 Yarger 24/166 provided for locking the loop member in the lowered475,951 5/1892 Stahley I 24/166 Osition 735,689 8/1903 Adams 24/167 p782,423 2/1905 Shoenberger 24/166 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 13 6A 2642 h 32 3O 28 2 2 \i [If e 26 I 2O t H f 70 11". I 62 t 14 I 9 y I T A5/ a a 52 e 4 {4 Ill I II all-=5.

5O i'y\ k lifi 72 PATENTEBJUN3 ms- 3.886532 SHEET 1 BUCKLE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to buckles for use with perforatedstraps.

It has been proposed in the prior art to provide for use with perforatedstraps buckles comprising a base plate from which a pin or stud projectsfor receiving a selected perforation of a strap and a cover pivotallyattached to the base plate for movement into raised and loweredpositions relative to the base plate. (See, for example, US Pat. No.353,526 and No. 470,485 and British Patent No. 20,351.) When the coveris in the lowered position, a strap having a perforation engaging thestud is held in place by the cover for maintaining the selectedperforation of the strap in receiving engagement with the stud. Theseprior art buckles have the disadvantage that they do not haveaesthetically pleasing appearance of a buckle having a buckle loop witha tang pivotally connected thereto which extends through a selectedperforation of the strap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a primary object of the presentinvention is to provide for use with perforated straps, such as luggagestraps, a buckle having a tang formed integrally with a buckle loop butwhich, when fastened to a strap, gives the general appearance of abuckle having a tang pivotally connected to a buckle loop.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle of theabove-described type constructed such that the loop member may bereleasably maintained in the raised and lowered positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle of theabove-described type having an improved locking mechanism for lockingthe loop member in the lowered position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a buckle of theabove-described type having simplified construction.

A buckle made in accordance with the invention for use with a perforatedstrap comprises a base plate having a stud projecting therefrom forreceiving a selected perforation of the strap and a loop memberpivotally attached to the base plate and movable to raised and loweredpositions relative thereto. Tang means, preferably a finger, is formedintegrally with the loop member and extends into the opening defined bythe loop member, the tang means being cooperable with the end of thestud when the loop member is in the lowered position for maintaining theselected perforation of the strap in receiving engagement with the stud.

The above-described objects and advantages of the invention, as well asother objects and advantages, will be apparent from the followingdetailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a buckle madein accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken approximately in theplane of line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken approximately in theplane of line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the buckle:

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, showing the loopmember in the lowered position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the loop member in theraised position;

FIG. 7 is a plan view ofa buckle in accordance with the invention havinga key-actuable locking mechanism for locking the loop member in thelowered position, this view showing the loop member in the raisedposition;

FIG. 8 is a plan view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the loop member inthe lowered position and showing a key inserted in the lockingmechanism, this view being partly broken away to show the relationshipof the key and the parts of the locking mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken approximately in theplane of line 99 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the locking bolt employed in thelocking mechanism of FIGS. 8 and 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, abuckle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the inventionessentially comprises a base plate or mounting plate A, a latch memberor loop member B, and a leaf spring C. For convenience of manufactureand assembly, the base plate and the loop member are preferably made bydie-casting these parts. Furthermore, although the drawings show abuckle having a generally rectangular shape, it will be understood thatbuckles in accordance with the invention may have other configurations.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, base plate A comprises a generally rectangularbody having a planar top surface 10 against which a perforated strap isto be placed. A plurality of countersunk holes 12 are provided forpermitting the base plate to be mounted in a known manner on a surface,such as the surface of one of the cooperable sections ofa suitcase ortrunk. Projecting from the center of the base plate is a pin or stud 14for receiving a selected one of the perforations 16 of a perforatedstrap 18, shown in phantom in FIG. 7. Pivotally connected to base plateA in a manner to be described later is a loop member B comprising sideportions 20, 22, 24, and 26 which define an opening 28 through the loopmember. A tank, preferably in the form of an elongated finger 30, isformed integrally with side portion 24 of the loop member and extends tothe center of opening 28, the end of the tang or finger being cooperablewith stud 14 on base plate A for maintaining the selected perforation ofthe strap in receiving engagement'with the stud when the loop member isin the lowered position shown in FIGS. 1-3. In the preferred form, theend of the tang has a recess 32 for receiving the end of the stud whenthe latch member is in the lowered position. When the latch member ismoved to the raised position shown in FIG. 7, the strap may be removedfrom the buckle or may be shifted relative to the base plate forenabling a different perforation of the strap to be engaged by stud 14.

It will be apparent from FIG. 1 that the buckle of the presentinvention, when in operative engagement with a perforated strap, has thegeneral appearance of a buckle having a tang pivotally attached to abuckle loop and extending through a selected perforation of the strap.

The manner in which loop member B is pivotally connected to base plate Awill now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 3. The opposite ends ofa pivot pin 34 are secured in respective channels 36 and 37 (see FIGS. 1and 3) in spaced sections 38 and 39 of side portion 26 of the loopmember by bending over the respective inner walls 40 and 41 (see FIG. 1)of the channels, as shown in FIG. 4. The central portion of the pivotpin is received by downwardly facing channels 42 and 44 formed by acurved wall 46 of the base plate.

Leaf spring C biases side portion 26 of the loop member against the baseplate for thereby releasably maintaining the loop member in the raisedand lowered positions. Referring to FIG. 4, leaf spring C is generallyT- shaped, with the broad end being mounted on the underside of the baseplate by headed-over studs 48 in a known manner. As shown in FIG. 2, thenarrow end of the spring is curved to form a bearing recess 50 whichreceives the pivot pin 34, the spring being flexed to bias side portion26 of the loop member into contact with the base plate. As shown in FIG.3, spaced sections 39 and 39 of side portion 26 of the loop, member haveextending downwardly therefrom projections 52 and 53 which are biasedinto contact with the depressed surfaces 54 and 55, respectively, of thebase plate when the loop member is in the lowered position. Theseprojections act as fulcrum points on the loop member for enabling theleaf spring and the pivot pin to cooperate to maintain the bottomsurface 56 of side portion 22 in contact with surface 10 of the baseplate, as shown in FIG. 2, when the loop member is in the loweredposition, thereby maintaining the loop member in that position. When theloop member is rotated to the raised position, shown in FIG. 6, leafspring C biases the outer surfaces 58 and 60 (see FIG. 1) of sections 38and 39, respectively, of loop member side portion 26 against surfaces 54and 55, respectively, of the base plate for resiliently maintaining theloop member in that position. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the uppersurface 62 of the portion of leaf spring C which forms bearing recess 50is adapted to contact the lower surface 64 of curved wall 46 on baseplate A for limiting further rotation of the loop member from the baseplate.

FIG. 7 illustrates the buckle of the invention fastened by rivets 66 toa surface 68, such as a surface provided by one of the cooperablesections of a suitcase or trunk of the like. The edge of surface 10 ofthe base plate is provided with a recess 70 which cooperates with arecess 72 in side portion 22 of the loop member to facilitate manualengagement of the loop member for lifting it from the lowered positionshown in FIGS. 2 and 9.

For releasably locking loop member B in the lowered position for therebysecuring perforated strap 18 in the buckle, a key-actuatable bolt isprovided. Referring to FIG. 7, a locking stud 74 having a notch 76 inits side projects perpendicularly from side portion 22 of the loopmember and is receivable by an opening 78 in the base plate when theloop member is in the lowered position, as shown in FIG. 9. A key barrel79 is held in place in an opening 77 in side portion 22 of the loopmember by a retaining plate 80 which is suitably attached to the loopmember. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9. a locking mechanism cooperable withthe locking stud comprises a frame 82 attached to the underside of thebase plate by headed-over studs 84. The frame has an opening 83 thereinfor receiving the locking stud 74. A generally Y-shaped locking bolt 85is pivotally attached to the frame by a rivet 88, the locking bolt beingshown in the locking position wherein leg portion 86 of the locking boltengages notch 76 of the locking stud. A key 90 is received through keybarrel 79, an opening nan-A 92 in retaining plate 80, and opening 94 inbase plate A for actuating the locking mechanism, the end of the keybeing received by opening 96 in frame 82. Rotation of the key in thecounterclockwise direction causes tooth 98 of the key to engage legportion 87 of the locking bolt for moving the locking bolt to theunlocked position (shown in phantom) to thereby release locking stud 74of the loop member. Clockwise rotation of the key when the locking boltis in the unlocked position causes tooth 98 of the key to engage legportion 86 of the locking bolt for moving the locking bolt to thelocking position (shown in solid lines). Depressions 100 and 102 in theframe are cooperable with a detent 104 on the bottom of leg portion 87of the locking bolt (shown in FIG. 10) for releasably maintaining thelocking bolt in the locked or unlocked positions, respectively. Thelocking bolt is preferably formed of spring steel with leg portion 87being bent downwardly relative to leg portion 86, as shown in FIG. 10,for biasing the detent 104 into contact with the frame 82. Referring toFIG. 8, frame 82 is further provided with projections or stops 106 and108 for limiting the range of rotation of the locking bolt to thelocking and unlocking positions, respectively.

It is believed that the advantages and proved results furnished by thebuckle of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing descriptionof a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A buckle for use with a perforated strap comprising a base platehaving a stud projecting therefrom for receiving a selected perforationof the strap, a loop member pivotally attached to the base plate andmovable to lowered and raised positions relative to the base plate, andtang means formed integrally with the loop member and extending into theopening defined by the loop member, the tang means covering the end ofthe stud when the loop member is in the lowered position for maintainingthe selected perforation of the strap in receiving engagement with thestud.

2. A buckle as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means forreleasably maintaining the loop member in the lowered and raisedpositions.

3. A buckle as set forth in claim 1, further comprising key-actuatablelocking means for releasably locking the loop member in the loweredposition.

4. A buckle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tang means comprises anelongated finger, the end of the finger being recessed to receive theend of the stud when the latch member is in the lowered position.

5. A buckle as set forth in claim 4, further comprising means forreleasably maintaining the loop member in the lowered and raisedpositions.

6. A buckle as set forth in claim 4, wherein a side portion of the loopmember has a pivot pin portion which is received by bearing recess meansprovided by the base plate for pivotally connecting the loop member tothe base plate.

7. A buckle as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a leaf springattached to the base plate and cooperable with the pivot pin portion ofthe loop member for biasing said side portion of the loop member againstthe base plate. and wherein said side portion of the loop member hasfirst and second surfaces cooperable with means provided by the baseplate for releasably maintaining the loop member in the raised andlowered positions, respectively.

8. A buckle as set forth in claim 4, further comprising locking meansfor releasably locking the loop member in the lowered position.

9. A buckle as set forth in claim 8, wherein the locking means comprisesa key-actuatable locking bolt carried by the base plate and cooperablewith a locking stud provided by the loop member.

10. A buckle as set forth in claim 9, wherein a side portion of the loopmember has a pivot pin portion in the raised and lowered positions.respectively.

1. A buckle for use with a perforated strap comprising a base platehaving a stud projecting therefrom for receiving a selected perforationof the strap, a loop member pivotally attached to the base plate andmovable to lowered and raised positions relative to the base plate, andtang means formed integrally with the loop member and extending into theopening defined by the loop member, the tang means covering the end ofthe stud when the loop member is in the lowered position for maintainingthe selected perforation of the strap in receiving engagement with thestud.
 1. A buckle for use with a perforated strap comprising a baseplate having a stud projecting therefrom for receiving a selectedperforation of the strap, a loop member pivotally attached to the baseplate and movable to lowered and raised positions relative to the baseplate, and tang means formed integrally with the loop member andextending into the opening defined by the loop member, the tang meanscovering the end of the stud when the loop member is in the loweredposition for maintaining the selected perforation of the strap inreceiving engagement with the stud.
 2. A buckle as set forth in claim 1,further comprising means for releasably maintaining the loop member inthe lowered and raised positions.
 3. A buckle as set forth in claim 1,further comprising key-actuatable locking means for releasably lockingthe loop member in the lowered position.
 4. A buckle as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the tang means comprises an elongated finger, the endof the finger being recessed to receive the end of the stud when thelatch member is in the lowered position.
 5. A buckle as set forth inclaim 4, further comprising means for releasably maintaining the loopmember in the lowered and raised positions.
 6. A buckle as set forth inclaim 4, wherein a side portion of the loop member has a pivot pinportion which is received by bearing recess means provided by the baseplate for pivotally connecting the loop member to the base plate.
 7. Abuckle as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a leaf springattached to the base plate and cooperable with the pivot pin portion ofthe loop member for biasing said side portion of the loop member againstthe base plate, and wherein said side portion of the loop member hasfirst and second surfaces cooperable with means provided by the baseplate for releasably maintaining the loop member in the raised andlowered positions, respectively.
 8. A buckle as set forth in claim 4,further comprising locking means for releasably locking the loop memberin the lowered position.
 9. A buckle as set forth in claim 8, whereinthe locking means comprises a key-actuatable locking bolt carried by thebase plate and cooperable with a locking stud provided by the loopmember.